Monday, April 22, 2013

Question - what do you think this means?

Yesterday in Relief Society I read this statement from lesson 7 of the Lorenzo Snow manual and have been pondering ever since about how "continued integrity" will help us through our trials. I have lots of thoughts but I'd like to hear yours ... if you are comfortable sharing, please do. Thank you very much."… I know that your lives have not been all sunshine; you have doubtless passed through many a trial, and perhaps have come up through muchtribulation; but by continued integrityyou will soon emerge from theshadows into the glorious sunshine of the celestial world."

2 comments:

In times of trials, I have often found comfort in the knowledge that faith is like a muscle it must be tried and exercised or it will be weakened. I read that lesson over again after RS yesterday and was touched by many of the thoughts shared. It made me think of two of my favorite quotes that I turn to for comfort during hard times:

Elder Russell M. Nelson:“We can combat fears by strengthening our faith. Let your faith be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ…Obedience to all the commandments of God WILL provide spiritual and physical protection. Remember, God’s holy angels are ever on call to help us. When we are faithful, God and His angels will help us. Many blessings will be yours in this life. God is our father. Jesus is the Christ. His truth, covenants, and ordinances enable us to overcome fear and face the future with faith.”

Elder Henry B. Eyring:“If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And he always keeps his word.”

I think if you show your "integrity" the Savior will bear us up in times of trial. He will "always keep his word."

As I get older, I often hear younger people say: That person's life is perfect, their marriage is perfect, their kids are perfect...I always think, then you don't know them. We all have trials, we all will have trials. It is the exercise that sustains our faith and often FORCES us to grow. I know that at times I have wondered why I have needed so much "growth" at once, but I continue to learn and realize how many things I still need to improve on.

You are an inspiration Katy, I think of all of your accomplishments and I can't imagine the effect that your example, and testimony has had and will have on many, many people.

Continued integrity for me = not giving in when it feels like too much. Staying true to the faith you know and the light and knowledge you've been given just because things are hard for a minute. Simple and surface ought a all the way for me.